70th anniversary of the start of the pacific war

Pity that the DoD didn't come up with the term, isn't it?

 

Japan not only attacked China, but the UK, France, US, Manchuria, and most other nations in the region before December 1941.

It was simply the appeasement and "Peace at any price" crowd that prevented any response until Japan made it obvious and "in your face" that they were serious about the war.

 

No, they consider it to be 1939.

Gee, that is still not 1941, is it?

 

What's your point? I never said 1941 was the start of WW2.

 

FDR knew where the train was going. War was inevitable even for us. At the time there was rationing and a national industrial effort to win the war. Bonds were sold, factories retooled, a draft started and the nation fell in with the plan. Just like the war in Iraq and Afghanistan except we didn't do anything of the above and treat the war as an entertainment venue.

 

Bruce who? ...

 

Kingsbury.


War Office, 9th February, 1943.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to: —

No. VX 19139 Private. Bruce Steel Kingsbury, Australian Military Forces.

In New Guinea, the Battalion to which Private Kingsbury belonged had been holding a position in the Isurava area for two days against continuous and fierce enemy attacks. On the 29th August, 1942, the enemy attacked in such force that they succeeded in breaking through the Battalion's right flank, creating a serious threat both to the rest of the Battalion and to its Headquarters. To avoid the situation becoming more desperate, it was essential to regain immediately the lost ground on the right flank.

Private Kingsbury, who was one of the few survivors of a Platoon which had been over-run and severely cut about by the enemy, immediately volunteered to join a different platoon which had been ordered to counter-attack.

He rushed forward firing his Bren Gun from the hip through terrific machine-gun fire and succeeded in clearing a path through the enemy. Continuing to sweep the enemy positions with his fire and inflicting an extremely high number of casualties on them, Private Kingsbury was then seen to fall to the ground shot dead, by the bullet from a sniper hiding in the wood.
Private Kingsbury displayed a complete disregard for his own safety. His initiative and superb courage made possible the recapture of the position which undoubtedly saved Battalion Headquarters, as well as causing heavy casualties amongst the enemy. His coolness, determination and devotion to duty in the face of great odds was an inspiration to his comrades.

 

Lol, the so called military expert throwing another hissy fit. Nothing new around here.

 

Great story. I wonder how many go untold?

Grand dad didn't talk about the war.

 

Lots. I remember reading of an account on the Track where after retaking a position they found an Australian soldier dead with dozens of dead Japanese around him, the closest with their skulls bashed in. No one though saw what happened.

 

My brother takes a large group of disadvantaged kids to the KT every year.

It has helped many of those poor blighters find peace and a sense of achievment in an otherwise (*)(*)(*)(*)y world for them.

As the markers at the track say...

Courage Mateship Endurance Sacrifice

Lest We Forget